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With Valentine’s Day coming up in just a few weeks, it’s the perfect time to slow down, get a little messy, and let preschoolers explore the big idea of love through play and creativity. If you’re searching for Valentine’s Day crafts for preschoolers, this post is packed with everything you need: 20+ simple, adorable, and totally doable projects that use everyday supplies like paper, glue, paint, and a whole lot of imagination. These crafts are designed for little hands, short attention spans, and big hearts—whether you’re doing a quiet afternoon activity at home, planning a classroom party, or just want to make some sweet keepsakes together. Let’s dive in and make this February extra special!

Why Do Valentine’s Crafts with Preschoolers?

Doing crafts with preschoolers is so much more than just making cute decorations—it’s one of the most powerful ways to support their growth and development while having fun. First, these activities build essential fine motor skills: pinching glue bottles, tearing paper, cutting with safety scissors, and threading beads all strengthen those tiny hand muscles that they’ll need for writing, buttoning clothes, and tying shoes later on.

Creativity gets a huge boost too. When kids choose colors, mix paints, or decide where to stick a googly eye, they’re practicing decision-making, problem-solving, and self-expression in a joyful way. Valentine’s Day crafts add an extra layer of magic because they focus on kindness and connection. Kids learn to think about others (“This heart is for Grandma!” or “I’ll make one for my best friend”), which helps them practice empathy and social skills.

On top of that, crafting together creates beautiful bonding moments. Sitting side-by-side, chatting, working through and laughing at the “oops” moments, and celebrating their finished creations builds confidence and a sense of belonging. And honestly? Watching a preschooler proudly hand you their wobbly, glue-covered heart valentine is one of the sweetest feelings in the world. These projects aren’t about perfection—they’re about process, love, and the joy of creating something together.

A Quick History of Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day has a long and interesting story that started way back in ancient times. Long ago in Rome, people celebrated a festival called Lupercalia in mid-February. It was a big party to welcome spring, say goodbye to winter, and celebrate new beginnings and love. Everyone danced, played games, and even picked names for secret friendships or sweethearts!

Later on, around the year 496 AD, the church wanted to give the holiday a new meaning. They chose February 14 to honor Saint Valentine, a kind priest who lived long ago. Legend says that Saint Valentine secretly married couples who wanted to be together, even when the emperor said no. Some stories say he also wrote loving letters from prison, signing them “Your Valentine.” That’s where the idea of sending valentines started!

Over the centuries, people began giving flowers, chocolates, and handwritten cards to show they cared. Today, Valentine’s Day is all about sharing love with family, friends, teachers, and classmates—no matter what kind of love it is. For preschoolers, it’s the perfect chance to talk about friendship, kindness, and how good it feels to make someone smile.

Children’s Books About Valentine’s Day

To get everyone in a loving mood before you start crafting, cuddle up with a few heartwarming stories. Here are some wonderful books that preschoolers adore:

• Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney: Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare try to show each other how much they love one another in the sweetest, silliest ways. It’s a cozy classic that gently teaches about endless love.
• Love You Forever by Robert Munsch: A mother sings a special lullaby to her son through every stage of his life, showing that love lasts forever. It’s tender and emotional—perfect for snuggling.
• The Day It Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond: Cornelia Augusta catches falling hearts and turns them into special valentines for her animal friends. This whimsical story inspires thoughtfulness and creativity.
• In My Heart: A Book of Feelings by Jo Witek: This colorful book explores all the different feelings we carry in our hearts, helping kids name emotions like happy, brave, or shy.
• The Valentine Bears by Eve Bunting: Mr. and Mrs. Bear wake up early from hibernation to surprise each other with treats. A gentle story about planning special moments.
• Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli: A lonely man receives an anonymous valentine that changes his whole outlook. It shows how one kind act can make a big difference.
• Cranberry Valentine by Wende and Harry Devlin: Grumpy Mr. Whiskers has never received a valentine before, but when fancy, lacy ones start arriving mysteriously, he panics and tries to solve the secret admirer puzzle. This charming story from the beloved Cranberry series ends with a heartwarming surprise and celebrates kindness and friendship.
• Love Is by Diane Adams, illustrated by Claire Keane: A little girl finds a lost duckling and cares for it through the seasons, feeding it, playing with it, and learning what love really means—patience, nurturing, and even letting go when the time comes. This tender, rhyming tale beautifully shows that love is about holding tight and setting free.
• Bear in Love by Daniel Pinkwater, illustrated by Will Hillenbrand: A sweet bear wakes up to find crunchy carrots left outside his cave and starts leaving gifts in return for his mysterious new friend. When they finally meet, they discover a delightful friendship filled with songs, sharing, and kindness.
• Snowy Valentine by David Petersen: Jasper Bunny braves a snowy day to search the forest for the perfect Valentine’s gift for his wife, Lilly, asking all his animal neighbors for ideas along the way. This cozy adventure ends with a loving surprise that shows the best gifts come from the heart.
• The Love Letter by Anika Aldamuy Denise, illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins: Three best friends—Hedgehog, Bunny, and Squirrel—each find a mysterious love letter that makes them feel special and changes their grumpy moods. A funny mix-up reveals the power of kind words and how friendship can spread love in unexpected ways.

20+ Valentine’s Day Crafts for Preschoolers

Here are 20+ easy, preschool-friendly crafts that use simple materials and deliver tons of fun. Whether you’re searching for the perfect craft to do with your own little one at home or you’re looking for a craft for a bunch of preschoolers, there’s something for everyone.

Handprint Love Bug

Using red paint, stamp your child’s handprint. Then create a love bug look by adding black dots on the palm and a coloring a black head at the heal of the hand. Add googly eyes, pipe cleaner antennae, and draw a big smiley face. In addition you can add cut out hearts as wings. This sweet bug makes a perfect valentine keepsake or card topper. I love handprint crafts to remember their sweet, small hands.

Learning opportunity: Builds fine motor skills through tracing and gluing while exploring symmetry and basic insect body parts.

Heart Art Painting

Kids dip heart-shaped sponges or homemade potato stamps into red, pink, and white paint to create beautiful patterns on paper. They can layer colors, add glitter, or even mix paints to discover new shades. Another option is to push in the side of a paper towel tube to resemble a heart shape. The finished artwork looks lovely displayed on the fridge or turned into cards.

Learning opportunity: Introduces color mixing and texture exploration, boosting sensory development and creative confidence.

Sticker Name Art

Preschoolers love working with the letters in their name. Write your child’s name in large bubble letters on sturdy paper. Let them cover each letter with heart stickers, draw extra decorations, or sprinkle glitter. Once complete, frame it or turn it into a special valentine gift.

Learning opportunity: Strengthens letter recognition and name spelling while improving hand-eye coordination.

Heart Suncatchers

Place colorful tissue paper scraps between two heart-shaped pieces of clear contact paper, then seal and hang in a sunny window. The light shines through to create a glowing rainbow effect. These beautiful suncatchers brighten any room.

Learning opportunity: Shows how light passes through materials, introducing basic science concepts in a magical way.

Paper Heart Weaving

Cut according to instructions two colors of paper and make appropriate cuts. Children weave together the ends to join the hearts together. The finished piece makes a sweet wall hanging.

Learning opportunity: Builds patience and dexterity while exploring simple weaving patterns.

Toddler Valentine’s Cards

Fold cardstock in half and invite little ones to finger-paint hearts, use stamps, or scribble with crayons. I even like to cut the cardstock into a heart shaped card. Help add a simple message inside before giving them away. These personal cards feel extra special because they come straight from tiny hands.

Learning opportunity: Encourages early writing attempts and emotional expression through art.

Paper Heart People or Chain

Fold a strip of paper accordion-style, cut appropriately unfold a chain of little people with little heart cut outs. Add drawn faces to bring them to life. They’re perfect for dancing across a mantel or window sill.

Learning opportunity: Develops folding and cutting skills while teaching about connections, just like friendships.

Handprint Heart Tree

Paint a brown tree trunk on paper, then press handprints in red and pink paint to form heart-shaped leaves. The result is a beautiful family love tree that grows with every print. It makes a touching keepsake for years to come.

Learning opportunity: Connects nature and emotions while teaching about growth and family bonds.

Framed Button Heart

Cut out a heart shape from a cardboard piece. Let your kiddo arrange colorful buttons on the heart and glue them down securely. This textured artwork adds a fun pop of color to any shelf.

Learning opportunity: Enhances sorting skills by color and size, supporting early classification abilities.

Heart-Shaped Bird Feeder

Mix birdseed with gelatin and other ingredients, press into a heart-shaped mold, add a string loop, and let it harden. Hang the feeder outside and watch birds enjoy the treat. It’s a wonderful way to share love with nature.

Learning opportunity: Introduces caring for animals and encourages outdoor observation.

Contact Paper Hearts

Cut hearts from clear contact paper, peel off the backing, and let kids stick feathers, sequins, tissue scraps, or foil onto the sticky side. Seal with another layer if desired and hang as decorations. This mess-free collage is perfect for toddlers.

Learning opportunity: Promotes sensory play and fine motor control without the hassle of glue.

Hanger Heart Wreaths

Prepare a wire hanger by bending it into a heart shape and wrap it with pink ribbon. Add bows, flowers, or extra hearts for decoration. Hang it on a door to welcome everyone with love.

Learning opportunity: Develops problem-solving skills through wrapping and tying techniques.

Doily Butterflies

Fold paper doilies to create symmetrical wings and clip them onto a clothespin body. Paint or decorate the wings and add pipe cleaner antennae. These delicate butterflies flutter beautifully when hung.

Learning opportunity: Explains symmetry and introduces simple insect life cycles.

Homemade Heart Felt Stamps

Cut hearts from felt pieces and glue them onto wooden blocks or bottle caps. Dip in paint and stamp patterns on paper or fabric. These reusable stamps are great for making cards, wrapping paper, or banners.

Learning opportunity: Encourages material reuse and supports pattern-making skills.

Fingerprint Heart Cards

Dip fingertips in paint and press two prints together at an angle to form a heart shape. Repeat to fill a folded card with personal hearts. Each one is uniquely yours because no two fingerprints are alike.

Learning opportunity: Teaches about personal uniqueness and reinforces basic shape recognition.

Yarn Wrapped Hearts

Cut hearts from cardboard and let children wrap colorful yarn around them in any pattern they like. Tuck or glue the ends to secure. These cozy hearts make lovely ornaments or gift tags.

Learning opportunity: Builds perseverance and hand strength through repetitive motion.

Salt Dough Heart Ornaments

Mix salt dough, roll it out, cut heart shapes, and bake until hard. Paint, decorate, and add a ribbon loop for hanging. These sturdy ornaments become treasured keepsakes or tree decorations.

Learning opportunity: Introduces simple baking science and the joy of giving handmade gifts.

Pom Pom Love Monsters

Glue colorful pom poms together to form silly monster bodies. Add googly eyes, pipe cleaner arms, and heart decorations. Each monster has its own funny personality ready to spread love.

Learning opportunity: Sparks creativity in character design and encourages emotional storytelling.

Beaded Pipe Cleaner Hearts

Twist pipe cleaners into heart shapes and thread pony beads along the wires. Combine multiple hearts for bracelets or hanging decorations.

Learning opportunity: Enhances counting, color sorting, and patterning skills.

Tissue Paper Flower Hearts

Crumple small tissue paper squares into balls and glue them onto a heart outline to create puffy flowers. Layer colors for dimension and add a green stem if desired.

Learning opportunity: Develops pinching and fine motor skills while exploring 3D textures.

Heart Collage with Magazines

Search old magazines for red and pink pictures, cut out hearts, and glue them into a large collage. Mix images of flowers, animals, or toys for a personal love story. It’s a great recycling project too.

Learning opportunity: Teaches recycling and encourages visual storytelling through found images.

Valentine Slime

Mix clear glue, liquid starch (or borax solution), red food coloring, and heart-shaped glitter or confetti. Knead until stretchy and play. This science activity entertains for hours.

Learning opportunity: Demonstrates simple chemical reactions and provides calming sensory play.

Love Bug Rocks

Paint smooth rocks with bright colors, add heart wings, googly eyes, and antennae. Write sweet messages on the bottom. Hide them around the neighborhood for others to find and keep.

Learning opportunity: Connects art with nature and encourages kindness through sharing.

Heart Crowns

Decorate long paper strips with drawn or stuck-on hearts, then staple or tape into a circle that fits a child’s head. Add extra jewels or feathers for royal flair. Perfect for a Valentine’s Day princess or king.

Learning opportunity: Boosts self-esteem through imaginative role-play and reinforces shape recognition.

Tips for Success with Preschool Valentine’s Crafts

Crafting with preschoolers can be pure magic, but a little preparation goes a long way toward keeping things fun and frustration-free. Here are some practical tips to help your Valentine’s crafting sessions go smoothly:

• Gather everything ahead of time: Lay out all supplies—paper, glue sticks, washable paints, safety scissors, markers, smocks, wipes, and a trash bin—before inviting kids to the table. This prevents interruptions and keeps the momentum going.
• Protect your space: Cover the table with newspaper, a plastic tablecloth, or craft mats. Keep baby wipes or a damp cloth nearby for quick cleanups, especially with paint or glitter.
• Choose age-appropriate tools: Use chunky crayons, dot markers, glue sticks instead of liquid glue, and safety scissors for little ones. For toddlers, opt for tear-and-stick activities or finger painting to minimize frustration.
• Prepare ahead when needed: Do any tricky cuts of cardboard or bending of wires by yourself ahead of time so your kiddo can focus on decorating and assembling.
• Keep sessions short and sweet: Preschoolers have short attention spans, so aim for 10–20 minutes per craft. It’s better to stop while they’re still excited than to push past meltdowns.
• Embrace the mess and the process: Let go of perfection—the wobbly lines, extra glue blobs, and uneven stickers are part of what makes it special. Praise effort, creativity, and ideas rather than the final product.
• Turn it into a social activity: Invite siblings, friends, or classmates to craft together. Sharing supplies and ideas helps build turn-taking, cooperation, and the joy of giving valentines to each other. I also love this for using up random supplies from our craft stash.
• Play Valentine’s music: Soft, upbeat tunes or a playlist of love-themed kids’ songs can set a happy mood and make the experience even more memorable.
• Take photos along the way: Capture their proud smiles, sticky fingers, and finished creations. These photos become treasured memories and are perfect for sharing with grandparents or adding to a family album.
• Display their work proudly: Hang crafts on the fridge, string garlands across the room, or mail them to loved ones. Have the loved ones take a picture with the creation once they receive it and share with the kiddo. Seeing their art appreciated boosts confidence and reinforces the theme of sharing love.

Lovely Crafts for Preschoolers

There you have it—20+ heartfelt, hands-on Valentine’s Day crafts for preschoolers that are as easy to set up as they are joyful to create. These activities go beyond cute decorations and Valentine’s cards: they help little ones develop important skills, explore their creativity, practice kindness, and make lasting memories with you. I’m passionate about turning everyday moments into opportunities for connection, laughter, and growth—and nothing captures that better than a table covered in paper hearts, glitter, and tiny fingerprints.

So this February, clear some space, stock up on red and pink supplies, pick a few favorites from this list (or try them all!), and let the love flow freely. Watch as your preschooler lights up while making something special for someone they care about—it’s one of those simple parenting moments that fills your heart for years to come.

Wishing you and your little valentines a February filled with hugs, giggles, and plenty of sticky, sparkly fun. If you try any of these crafts, I’d love to hear about your favorite creations in the comments below.

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